Improved Liver Function Following Treatment with an Extracorporeal Liver Assist Device

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Abstract
A 68‐year‐old woman with fulminant hepatic failure of unknown etiology was treated with a bioartificial liver assist device. Prior to treatment, she had a number of clinical and laboratory features that suggested a hopeless outcome. Treatment was associated with a dramatic change in her mental status, and her clinical picture improved progressively during 6 days of continuous therapy. Evidence of recovery of native liver function allowed the discontinuation of treatment, and she continued to improve for a further 3½ days before her demise from septic shock. We propose that a metabolically active liver assist device is a logical and practical method for treating the critical phase of fulminant hepatic failure.